Musical instrument



Aug; 17, 1937. H, E E 2,090,011

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fil ed March 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HENR/ SELML'R ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. H. SELMER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HENR/ SELMER.

ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. H. SELMER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /7NR/ SELMER.

ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. H. SELMER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 27, 1955 ATTORNEY INVENTQR HEN/R I M 9 m l E J.| O 4 54 6 6 Z O 7 955 mm 0 O 3 M M I I. 8 \ll. w w E w Flu. m I J J n Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Henri Selmer, Paris, France Application March 27,

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to musical instruments of the Wood wind type and more particularly to saxophones or similar musical instruments.

In saxophones of the prior art constructions, the mechanisms for operating the tampions, which control the vents in the bell of the instrument, are so positioned that they project beyond the side of the instrument opposite to the side of the bell in which the vents are provided. This projection of the tampion operating mechanisms is very undesirable because it is frequently necessary for the player, when playing the instrument, to hold the latter against his body, with the result that portions of the mechanisms are caught in the clothing of the player and with the further harmful result that certain portions of the mechanisms, such as the actuating rods or shafts, are

bent. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to position the mechanisms for actuating the bell-vent tampions so that said mechanisms do not project beyond the side of the instrument.

Saxophones of the prior art constructions are also open to the objection that the tampion operating mechanisms are so mounted that they ofier unequal frictional resistances to their actuation by the operating keys, and by the springs which oppose the actuation of the keys, by reason of the fact that said mechanisms include interfitting rods and sleeves of unequal length. For this reason it is necessary to provide springs capable of exerting different forces on the actuating mechanisms in accordance with the different frictional resistances of said mechanisms, and by reason of the provision of such springs of unequal strength, the forces required to actuate the keys by the fingers of the player vary considerably with respect to the several keys. This is a serious objection because it interferes with the ability of the player to exert the proper uniform touch on the keys to obtain the desired musical effects. It is, therefore, another object of this invention to mount the tampion-actuating mechanisms so that the frictional resistances are substantially equal, thereby permitting the use of springs of equal strength and as a result substantially equalizing the forces which are necessary to actuate the several keys, so that the player can actuate 50 the keys by an even or uniform touch.

In the prior art constructions, the neck or mouthpiece of the instrument carries the octave vent and the tampion operating mechanism therefor. By reason of this construction, it is 55 impossible to adjust the position of the neck of 1935, Serial No. 13,228

the instrument, although it is very desirable to provide for adjustment of the neck so that the player can position the same in a manner best suited to his convenience. It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to mount the neck in position independently of the octave vent and the tampion operating mechanism therefor so that said neck can be readily adjusted by the player to suit his convenience.

A further object of the invention is to provide a saxophone or like musical instrument with improved mechanisms for operating the first and second octave tampions in such a way as to obtain an evenly balanced operation of said mechanisms. 10

A yet further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of wood wind instruments, such as Saxophones or like instruments, especially for the purpose of obtaining evenly balanced operating mechanisms.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will best be understood from the following descriptions considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a saxophone embodying the present invention, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness in illustrating the novel construction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear View in elevation of the keys and parts of the tampion operating rods actuated thereby;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1---'! of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a side view in elevation of a guard for the bell tampions;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line |0-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in section showing one end of a tampion operating rod and a bearing therefor; Fig. 12 is a section on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 2; Fig. 13 is a side view of the upper portion of the saxophone with parts omitted for the sake of clearness in illustrating the novel construction;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary rear view of the upper portion of the saxophone;

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view on the line i5--i5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a sectional View on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a detail View partly in elevation and partly in section of part of the tampion octave mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the first bow of the saxophone and a portion of the neck or mouthpiece mounted therein.

In the drawings many of the well known parts of the saxophone have been omitted in order not to obscure the illustration of the novel features of the present invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the present illustration is to be considered as relating to a saxophone having all the necessary parts including such parts and mechanisms as are well known to those skilled in the art and the novel parts and mechanisms disclosed herein, whereby a practically operative instrument of the improved construction herein contemplated is provided.

Referring to the drawings in detail the saxophone, embodying the present invention, comprises the usual stack IS, the bell l2 provided with the usual bell vents l4, l6 and it for producing the Cit, B natural and Bb notes respectively, and controlled by the tampions 2!], 22 and 24, respectively. Said tampions are carried by arms 28, 28 and 39, respectively, secured to rods which are actuated by the keys for operating the tampions.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the location of the rods'at the front of the stack between the latter and the bell whereby said rods are disposed inwardly of the'side til of the instrument opposite to the side of the beil in which the vents are provided, so that said side is free from any projecting parts at the portion thereof which frequently comes in contact with the clothing of the player when the latter holds the instrument in certain positions. Thus, as best shown in Fig. 2, the mechanisms for operating the bell tampions include a group of rods 42, M1 and d6 mounted at the front of the stack is between the latter and the bell l2. Said rods extend longitudinally of the stack and are disposed laterally thereof in spaced relationwith respect to each other. The upper ends of said rods are individually mounted in bearings carried by abracket 68, secured to the stack H and projecting forwardly therefrom. The lower ends of said rods are pivotally mounted in bearings carried by individual posts 58, 52 and 5 3 also secured to the stack IQ and projecting forwardly therefrom. In each case, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1, the pivotal bearing for each end of the rod comprises a screw having a conical bearing surface 58 engaged by the conical walls 60 of a recess in the end of the rod, here shown as the rod 42. A bracket 62 is secured to the front of the stack iii and is provided with arcuate bearing surfaces which are engaged by the rods'intermediate the ends thereof whereby said rods are held in proper relative position and are prevented from being bent as the result of forces which may be applied thereto during the actuation thereof.

- The rod 52 operates the Bt tampion and for this purpose the arm 39 is fixed to said rod and is oscillated by'the latter to open and close the tampion. The rod 42 is actuated by the Bt key it carried by an arm 68 secured to said rod.

near its upper end. The operation of said rod by the key 5% is resisted by a needle spring 10 secured at one end to the post 59 and at its other end to a lug it provided on the rod 42, said spring serving to return the tampion to open position when the key $6 is released. The'B natural tampion is operated by the rod 64 to which the arm 28 is secured and said rod 34 is actuated by the B natural key 12 carried by an arm M secured to said rod near its upper end. The B natural key is provided with a projection l3 extending into the path of movement of the Bb key 65 and is engaged by the latter whereby its actuation also results in the actuation of the B natural key 72. The B natural key is normally held in open position by a needle spring 53 secured at one end to the post 52 and at its other end to a lug projecting from the rod 44.

The rod Q8 operates the Ct tampion 20 under the control of the Ct key if: carried by an arm iii secured to said rod near its upper end. However, the tampion arm 26 is not actuated directly by the rod 46 because said tampion is operated under the control of the Ct key in a direction opposite to that in which the B natural and Bb tampions are operated so that the Ct tampion is closed when said other two tampions are. opened and vice versa. For this purpose there is provided a counter rod or shaft 18 pivotally carried by posts 88 and 82 mounted on the bell l2; The arm of said Ct tampion is secured to the rod i8 and is actuated by the latter through the medium of a rocker arm 8 secured at the upper end of the rod l8 and adapted to engage a rocker arm 55 secured at the lower end of the rod 46. The Ci tampicn 26 is normally held in closed position by a needle spring Bl secured at one end to the post 32 and at its other end to a lug 83 projecting from the rod 75, and said spring Bl also serves to return the Ct key to its normal position. To prevent excess rotation of the rod it by the spring 8? and the inter-engaging rocker arms 8 5 and 8% when the key '15 is released, the rod 35 is provided with a stop arm 47 secured thereto and adapted to engage the bell I2 to limit the return movement of said rod, said arm @1 having a sound mufliing pad 39 of any suitable material, such as hard rubber, secured thereto. The C1? key 75 is provided with a stop Tl, which, upon the actuation of said key, engages the stack iii to limit the degree of rotation of the rod QB thereby eliminating unnecessary stresses on the needle spring'al and equalizing the movement of the key with respect to the other keys for operating the bell tampions. The Bb key 66 is also provided with a stop '6? which is adapted to engage thestack Iii when said key is actuated.

The bell vent tampions 29, 22 and 24 are disposed for movement between the mouths of the vents andresilient stop members 38 carried by guards Qii which are secured to the bell over the vents therein by screws 92. As the guards 96 are of the same construction. and difier from each other only in size, only one of said guards will be described in detail. Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 9 and 10, it will be observed that the guard 99 comprises segmental plate 9! carried by three symmetrically arranged arms 93 disposed in right angular relation thereto and provided with apertures through which the screws 92 are passed for securing the guard to posts 9'? projecting from the bell 42. The plate 9| is provided with an'aperture 59 within which said resilient stop member 33 is mounted in frictional engagement with the edge of the plate adjacent said opening the stack I0.

* the player.

and with the top surface of said resilient stop engaged by upwardly and inwardly reflexed fingers 99 provided in plate 9I. Said resilient stop 88 is preferably constituted by a soft felt pad.

Another important feature of the present in vention resides in an improved arrangement for operating the Gt tampion I which is operated by mechanisms, which will be described presently, under the control of the Gt key I02. Said key I02 is carried by an arm I04 secured at the upper end of the rod I06 which is pivotally mounted in bearings of the construction illustrated in Fig. 11 carried by posts I08 and H0 on The rod I06 is provided with a rocker arm ll2adapted to engage a rocker arm II4 at the upper end of a counter rod or shaft H6 pivotally mounted at its ends in bearings oi the type illustrated in Fig. 11 carried by posts H8 and I253 fixed to the stack I0. The tampion I00 is carried by an arm IOI which is fixed to said rod II6. Said Gt tampion I00 is normally held in closed position by a needle spring I22 fixed at one end to said post H0 and at its other end to a lug I24 projecting from the rod I06. The movement of the key I02 against the force of the spring I22 is limited by a stop member I03 which is carried by the arm I04 in position to engage the stack I0. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the shaft I I6 is urged to tampion opening position by a needle spring I23 secured at one end to the post H8 and bearing at its other end against a lug 525 projecting from said shaft. Accordingly, when the shaft I06 is actuated against the spring I22, the pressure of the rocker arm M2 on the rocker arm H4 is reduced or released thereby permitting the spring I23 to actuate the shaft II6 to open said tampion I06.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision for mounting the neck or mouthpiece of the saxophone independently of any tampion or tampion operating mechanism and in the provision of means to permit the adjustment of the neck to suit the convenience of Thus, as best shown in Figs. 13 and 13, the neck I30 is provided with a sleeve I32 which is received within a socket portion I34 at one end of the first bow I36. The opposite free end of the neck is provided with the usual mouth piece 329. The neck I30 is provided with a short collar ISI at the upper end of the sleeve I32 providing a shoulder I33 which engages the upper or free end of the socket I34. For the purpose of securing the neck in adjusted position, the socket I34 is provided with a slot I38 to permit contraction of said socket by means of a clamping screw I40 in threaded engagement with lugs Hi2 and M secured to the socket I34 at opposite sides of said. slot I38. By virtue of this construction, the socket I34 can be clamped to the sleeve !32. It will be observed that said first bow I36 is connected to the stack I0 by the upper bow IS'I.

The first octave vent I50 is provided in the first bow I36 and, more particularly, in said socket portion I34, and is controlled by a tampion I52 carried by an arm I54 secured to an operating rod I56. Said rod I56 is pivotally mounted at its end in bearings of the type illustrated in Fig. 11, carried by posts I58 and I60 projecting from the upper end of the stack I0.

The second octave vent I62 is provided in the upper bow I31 adjacent the top of stack I0, and the second octave tampion I64 is carried by a vertically extending arm I65 having a lower curved portion I68 secured to an operating rod I I0. Said rod I is pivotally mounted at its ends in bearings of the type illustrated in Fig. 11 carried by the post I58 and a post In projecting from the stack I0.

The rod I56 for actuating the first octave tampion I52 is operated by a yoke mechanism constituted by a bar II4 having reduced ends I16 and H8 mounted somewhat loosely in apertures I80 and I82 provided in the free ends of lever arms I84 and I86 fixed to the rods I10 and I56 respectively. The bar I14 is actuated by a lever I88 extending longitudinally of the stack I0 and pivotally mounted by means of a transverse shaft I90 carried at its ends by pivotal bearings of the type illustrated in Fig. 11 mounted in posts I92 fixed to the stack I0.

The upper end of the lever I88 is connected to the bar I'I4 intermediate the ends thereof by a member I 94, having a shank I96 passing somewhat loosely through an aperture in the bar I14 and having .a pivotal bearing in the sleeve I98 fixed to said bar whereby the bar H4 can pivot about the shank I96. In its specific construction, the shank of said pivotal bearing may include a screw-threaded portion at its free end beyond the bar H4 in engagement with a screw threaded recess in the member I94. A spring I89 is fixed at one end by a screw I9I to the lever I88 at a point above the pivot shaft I90 and at its other end between the guide lugs I93 for the free end of said lever.

The second octave tampion I 64 is operated by the second octave key I9I which, as shown in Fig. 2, is positioned adjacent the Gt key I02. Said second octave key I9! is carried by an arm 200 fixed to an operating rod 202 pivotally mounted at its ends in the same manner as the other operating rods hereinbefore described on the posts H8 and I99. A rocker arm 264 is secured to said operating rod 202 near the upper end thereof and is adapted to engage a rocker arm 206 secured at the lower end of the operating rod I56 when the latter is moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. as will be more clearly described. Normally said rocker arm is in engagement with the stack I0, being held in said position under the control of the needle spring 226 secured at one end to the post H8 and at its other end to a lug 205 projecting from the operating rod 202, as best shown in Fig. 2. The rocker arm 204 is provided with a sound mufiling pad 205, shown in Fig. 15.

The first octave tampion I52 is normally held in closed position under the control of a needle spring 228 secured at its upper end to the post I58 and its lower end to the arm I06 fixed to the operating rod I58. It will be understood also that this spring is effective to normally hold the rocker arm 206 in spaced relation to the end of the rocker arm 204 and that the space is such that the rocker arm 204 is ineifective to actuate the rocker arm 206 since, in the normal position of the latter, movement thereof is prevented by the engagement of the tampion I52 with the mount of the vent I59. Accordingly, in order to operate the second octave tampion I64 it is necessary to depress the lever I08 whereby to move the first octave tampion I52 to the open position shown in dotted lines, whereupon the rocker arm 206 is moved close to the rocker arm 264 for engagement by the latter when the second octave key I98 is actuated. Upon actuation of the second octave key I 91, the rod 202 is turned bringing t shank we.

' in View of the present disclosure.

the rocker arm 204 in engagement with the rocker arm 2% thereby actuating the lever arm its and causing the bar H4 to pivot about the This pivotal movement of the bar EM actuates the lever arm I84 causing movement of the rod I and the consequent movement of the tampion arm 166 thereby moving the second octave tampion N54 to open position. When the second octave tampion I64 is thus moved to open position, the first octave tampion is moved simultaneously to closed position. It will be observed that the operation of the rocker arm 2% and the second octave tampion actuating mechanism operated thereby is resiliently opposed by the needle spring 228. The action of the mechanism for thus operating the octave tampions is exceedingly well balanced and a uniform touch in operating the mechanism is accordingly assured.

Thus, it will be seen that the present construction is well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that certain changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made and will occur to those skilled in the art It will be understood also that certain featuresof the present invention may be embodied in the saxophone without others, although a saxophone embodying all of the features disclosed herein is preferred. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise structures illustrated herein except as may be required by the appended claims and the prior art. 1

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and mechanisms for controlling said tampions extending longitudinally of said stack and positioned between the latter and the bell inwardly of the side of said stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided.

2. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell and disposed inwardly of the side of the stack and bell opposite to the side-of the bell in which said vents are provided.

3. A musical'instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a plurality of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of said stack between the latter and the bell and disposed individually in lateral spaced relation with respect to each other, said rods being mounted inwardly of the sides of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided. 7

4. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in' one'side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell and disposed inwardly of the side of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided, and means for mounting each of said rods individually at its ends whereby the frictional resistance to the turning of each of said rods is substantially the same in amount, and keys for turning said rods to actuate said tampions.

5. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, a plurality of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of said stack between the latter and the bell and disposed individually in lateral spaced relation with respect to each other, said rods being mounted inwardly of the sides of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided, and means for mounting each of said rods individually at its ends whereby the frictional resistance to the turning of each of said rods is substantially the same in amount, and keys for turning said rods to actuate said tampions.

6. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell and disposed inwardly of the side of the stack and bell oppositeto the side of the bell in which said vents are provided, means for mounting each of said rods individually at its ends whereby the frictional resistance to the turning of each of said rods is substantially the same in amount, and keys for turning said rods to actuate said tampions, and means interposed between said stack and rods intermediate the ends of the latter to prevent flexing thereof.

7. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the'bell and disposed inwardly of the side of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided, and means interposed between said stack and rods intermediate the ends of the latter to prevent flexing thereof.

8. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vent, and mechanisms for operating said tampions mounted on the front of said stack, extending longitudinally thereof, and disposed inwardly of that side of the stack and the bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided.

9. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions mounted on the front of said stack, extending longitudinally thereof and disposed inwardly of that side of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided.

-. 10. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions mounted on the front of said stack, extending longitudinally thereof and disposed inwardly of that'side of the stack and bell opposite to the side of the bell in which said vents are provided, and means for mounting each of said rods individually at its ends whereby the frictional resistance to the turning of each of said rods is substantially the same in amount, and keys for turning said rods to actuate said tampions.

11. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell, and an individual pivotal bearing for each end of each of said rods whereby each of said rods is pivotally mounted independently of each of said other rods.

12. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell, disposed in lateral spaced relation between the sides of the stack, and an individual pivotal bearing for each end of each of said rods whereby each of said rods is pivotally mounted independently of each of said other rods.

13. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell, disposed in lateral spaced relation between the sides of the stack, and means secured to said stack and projecting forwardly thereof in engagement with said rods between the ends there- 1 of for opposing lateral flexing of said rods.

14. A musical instrument of the wood wind type provided with a stack and a bell, vents in one side of said bell, tampions for controlling said vents, and a group of oscillatory rods for operating said tampions extending longitudinally of the stack between the latter and the bell, and disposed in lateral spaced relation between the sides of the stack, an individual pivotal bearing for each end of each of said rods whereby each of said rods is pivotally mounted independently of each of said other rods, and means secured to said stack and projecting forwardly thereof in engagement with said rods between the ends thereof for opposing lateral flexing of said rods.

HENRI SELMER. 

